A goal just before the end of the first half handed Hibernians a narrow win over Floriana at the National Stadium on Monday to move back in second place, seven points behind leaders Hamrun Spartans.
This was the second win for the Paolites over Floriana in five days after defeating them on penalties in the BOV Super Cup final on Thursday.
Both coaches made a number of changes from Thursday’s game. Justin Haber started in goal for Hibernians with Gabriel Mensah and Yunusa Muritala handed a start ahead of Zachary Grech and Jurgen Degabriele. For Floriana, Oualid El Hasni, Mattia Veselji, Fernando Ezequiel Juarez and Alejandro Garzia made way for Kemar Reid, Owen Spiteri, Carlo Zammit Lonardelli and Lorenzo Trillo.
Hibs scored the all-important goal one minute in added time before half-time when Bjorn Kristensen served Jake Grech and the latter hit hard past goalkeeper Georgi Kitanov.
To make matters worse, Floriana had Christian Rutjens sent off eleven minutes from time.